A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES RELATED TO THE LOBO WOLVES OF KANE, PA

McKEAN DEMOCRAT, Thursday, March 23, 1922, page 1

PACK OF TIMBER WOLVES.

Kane Republican: There is a situation developing in Kane that may cause some anxiety to sportsmen, game authorities and farmers in this section of the state, in the presence of a pack of seven timber wolves, said to be the largest privately owned pack of animals in the United States, that apparently is thriving within the boundaries of the community. The wolves are owned by Dr. E. H. McCleery, who resides near the northern line of the city. His property adjoins woodland and the animals are kept in a strong enclosure which allows them considerable liberty. The genuine timber wolf is becoming scarce in this country and biologists express fear of them becoming extinct. A short time ago Dr. McCleery obtained four wolf puppies from the Montana biological department. According to their owner, the wolves are as tame as dogs and no more dangerous.
McKEAN COUNTY MINER - Thursday, March 15, 1923, pg. 1

KANE MAN MAKES WOLVES HIS PETS

In the Monday issue of the Kane Republican, its readers found an illustration of a view of a pack of wolves owned by Dr. McCleery of that city. The doctor has recently sold a wolf to Lord Auckland of England, who is present in New York City. He intends to visit Kane in the spring.

The fame of Dr. McCleery's pack is growing throughout the U.S. He also has a flock of wild ducks and a goose. The following article regarding the wolves was taken from the Sunday North American:

That some members of the English nobility are interested in the collection of wild animals is indicated by the telephone conversations and negotiations which are now going on between Dr. E.H. McCleery of this city and representatives of titled Britons in New York, which resulted today in a wolf being shipped to New York City, believed to be destined for the English residence of Sir Auckland Geddes, British ambassador to this country. There is another titled Englishman who seems anxious to become the possessor of one of these animals.

While Dr. McCleery has collected and maintains a pack of twelve wolves solely for his own entertainment and is not at all interested in raising the animals for commercial purposes, refusing requests every day to set a price on the wolves for the purpose of making sales, it is probable that he will make an exception in the cases of these men both of whom wish to ship the wolves to England as mates for those already in their possession.

Doctor McCleery, since securing the nucleus of the pack a few years ago has parted with but one other wolf, and that was at the earnest request of Colonel Henry W. Shoemaker, naturalist and historian of Altoona, Pa.

According to the owner of the same pack, who has made a thorough study of all phases of a wolf's life and habits, it is a much-maligned animal. Most of the tales of the bloodthirst of the wolf are pure invention, and only in rare cases has one attacked a human being.

All of the newspaper stories of the last winter, which reported various persons killed and devoured by wolves in northern Canada, were found upon investigation to be sheer falsehoods. Dr. McCleery says it is true in the wild state they prey upon game birds and animals and sometimes sheep and young cattle, but the pack by Doctor McCleery, with one exception, are almost as tame as house dogs. He enters the strong pens where they are confined on the outskirts of the city and pets and romps with them as though they were puppies.

Ten of the pack are known as buffalo wolves, the largest and most courageous of the species. The two others are timber wolves. The first of the buffalo breed were brought from Montana, and the pair of timber wolves came from the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. The doctor has succeeded in raising a few puppies, and will dispose of surplus animals to zoos about the country.

The quickness and endurance of the animals is marvelous. They will lope for hours around the big enclosure for exercise making leaps of from twelve to eighteen feet but very seldom do their tongues loll out, like dogs, after violent exertion.

They are very tame and gentle around people they are familiar with until they are past three years old. Then they become irritable and uncertain in disposition, but this same peculiarity is often noted in setters and some other breeds of dogs.

There is a female in the pack which upon numerous occasions has been known to catch sparrows while the birds are flying over the pens. She leaps in the air and almost invariably has the unlucky bird in her mouth when she strikes the ground. A leap as high as a man's head is ordinary for a full grown wolf, and during their gambols they move with unbelievable rapidity.

Encircled with forests, the existence of a wolf pack in Kane has brought about some novel and amusing incidents. Not long ago a tourist from an eastern city was taking a stroll. It was a bright moonlight and the McCleery wolf pack was in full cry, the stranger asked a passing citizen what made the dogs howl that way.

"Those are not dogs," replied the native, "that is a pack of wolves."

"Wolves! My God I should have expected that," and he retreated to the hotel at high speed.

One wolf in the pack was tormented by boys during its puppy days and now refuses to become friendly with the human race. There is another that for some reason is an outcast to the rest of the pack and has to be kept separately to prevent him being eaten by the pack.
''McKEAN DEMOCRAT'“ Thursday, April 26, 1923, pg. 1

ENGLISH LORD SAYS WOLF FROM KANE PACK IS A SENSATION

Kane Republican, Saturday. That the wolf pack owned by Dr. E. H. McCleerry of Kane is gaining an international reputation is becoming more apparent every day, Frederick Coburn, George Eden of West Auckland, Co. Durham, England, more easily said and written as Lord Auckland, who is at present staying in New York, recently wrote to Dr. McCleery regarding the timber wolf which his lordship recently purchased from the Kane pack.

Lord Auckland has named his pet â€œHelen,â€ and enclosed a number of snapshots of the wolf, showing that it is as tame as a house dog. One picture shows a lady caressing the animal and others show the wolf and a Russian wolfhound, owned by Lord Auckland on apparently the most friendly terms.

Lord Auckland says: "Helen is becoming very affectionate and domesticated, but find she does not like to ride in an automobile unless wrapped in a rug so arranged that she can hide her head occasionally, then, apparently, she enjoys riding. I shall be delighted to come to your place when the pups are old enough and would very much like to get a male pup. Helen creates a great sensation in New York. Many of my friends are anxious to possess wolf pets and you could sell all the pups you could raise here."

The commercial side of wolf-raising however, does not appeal to Dr. McCleery. As a matter of fact, he is fairly deluged with offers and inquiries concerning the pack and could sell twice as many wolves as he possesses, every week.

This is an interesting time at the wolf farm. There are four litters of newborn puppies which the mother wolves watch with unsleeping vigilance and jealous care. As a matter of fact the wolves are hidden away in the kennels and no one knows the number of little ones, or will know for several weeks when the pups are old enough to toddle about. She-wolves are veritable fiends when nursing puppies and would fight to the death before they would allow a person the approach the litters.

The McCleery wolf pack is becoming known all over the world as the most successful attempt to tame these interesting American animals, and to save the species from becoming extinct.
McKEAN DEMOCRAT - Thursday, March 6, 1924, pg. 3

TAKING MOVIES OF THE McCLEERY WOLF PACK

The Fox Film corporation is today taking moving pictures at Dr. E. H. McCleery's famous wolf pack at the big park at the foot of Tionesta Avenue. The wolves are a popular feature with moving picture concerns and it is possible that another series of pictures will be taken in April when several dozen puppies are expected to be added to the pack â€“ Kane Republican, Saturday.
McKEAN DEMOCRAT - Thursday, July 3, 1924, page 7

THREE WOLF PUPPIES CAUSE EXCITEMENT

Kane Republican, Friday: Three puppies from the McCleery Wolf pack escaped from the big enclosure, near the foot of Tionesta avenue last night due to the mischievous work of boys removing a padlock and opening the gate. There was considerable excitement in the west and southern portions of the city when it was rumored that wolves were at large and some wild stories gained circulation which were utterly untruthful.

One was to the effect that one of the wolves leaped upon a woman and tore the clothing from her, but upon investigation it transpires that the lady was walking along the street and the wolf, puppy-like approached her and playfully took hold of a handbag she carried.
The woman believing it was a puppy played with it for several minutes during which time the young wolf pulled a button ornament from the handbag. Then somebody came along and informed the woman that the animal was a wolf and she became frightened, but the wolf did not attempt to attack or hurt her in any way.

Another story to the effect that a man was chased by the animals was without foundation as this same man said there was no truth in the story and he volunteered to help capture the runaways.

William Cleer called the animals to him like dogs and played with them and one was so captured and returned to the pen. Later in the evening Dr. McCleery captured the other two after he had located them. They came to him readily when he showed them meat for food.

Dr. McCleery informed the Republican this morning that he absolutely will not keep one of the animals when it shows signs of becoming vicious and said that while he was much attached to the big leader of the pack, â€œJerryâ€ that he had him killed just as soon as he found that the big wolf might attack the men who attend to the animals or work around the enclosure. The three that escaped for a short time last night were all puppies and not in the least dangerous, he said, and his statement is substantiated by many other people who have become familiar with the wolf pack.
McKEAN DEMOCRAT - Thursday, February 14, 1929, pg. 8

TO GET ANOTHER WOLF.

An addition will be made within a few days, according to the owner, Dr. E. H. McCleery, who stated today that he had purchased a nine-year old wolf from a woodsman of Montana. The wolf was captured several years ago and is believed to be one of a few Rocky Mountain wolves in captivity.

The wolf has been shipped and will arrive soon. Dr. McCleery added that he will have wolves of 14 unrelated families in his pack and that he is continually receiving communications from persons either desiring to sell or buy wolves “Kane Republican", February 9.
'McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT'' - Thursday, April 25, 1929, pg. 3

DR. McCLEERY MOVES WOLVES.

Kane Republican, Monday. Dr. E. H. McCleery today started the task of moving his pack of 62 wolves, the largest in captivity, from their park in Kane to their new dens about six miles northeast of here on the Roosevelt and Buffalo-Pittsburgh highways.

He is taking the wolves two at a time in one of his automobiles, a coupe. On each trip one of the wolves is chained to the steering column in the front seat and another is placed in a cage in the rear part of the auto. The wolves are not being muzzled, nevertheless the physician does not anticipate any trouble. He has the full confidence of the animals, and does not think that the change in environment will cause any change in their behavior.
McKEAN COUNTY MINER, Thursday, April 25, 1929, pg. 8

McCLEERY RIDES WITH WOLVES TO NEW DEN

Kane, April 23 st, Dr. E. H. McCleery today started the task of moving his pack of 62 wolves, the largest in captivity, from their park in Kane to their new dens, about six miles northeast of here on the Roosevelt and Buffalo-Pittsburgh highways.

He is taking the wolves two at a time in one of his automobiles, a coupe. On each trip one of the wolves is chained to the steering column in the front seat and another is placed in a cage in the rear part of the auto. The wolves are not being muzzled, nevertheless, the physician does not anticipate any trouble. He has the full confidence of the animals, and does not think that the change in environment will cause any change in their behavior.

At two o'clock this afternoon Dr. McCleery had moved three of the animals to their new home. He is driving alone in the car and there is a keeper at each of the parks to take care of the animals.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, May 16, 1929, pg. 3

NEW McCLEERY WOLF PARK OCCUPIED BY ENTIRE PACK.

Kane Republican, May 11. The eerie howl of a wolf pack in full cry is peculiar to Kane no more, for late yesterday Dr. E. H. McCleery completed transportation of his pack of 72 wolves to the new park about six miles northeast of here on the Roosevelt highway.

Seventeen wolf pups still remain at the stone house in the West Side park. They are being tamed by special handlers who are familiarizing the little animals with the human touch.

Thirty-two members of the pack are full grown wolves.

Work at the new park is rapidly nearing completion. Finishing touches were put on a stone arch over entrance to the enclosure yesterday. Visitors to the place drive off the paved road onto a driveway which is flanked by spacious parking areas. The driveway, which has not been completed as yet, is to be of crushed stone.

After entering the outer gate, visitors walk down a rustic path to a small slope on which has been built rough stone steps. Midway down the slopes the pens begin. The wolf enclosures cover about an acre of ground and are of very attractive construction. Double strength wire mesh eleven feet high surrounds all of the pens and runways in which the animals are kept.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, August 1, 1929, pg. 7

WORTHLESS HORSES BOUGHT

Must be Free From Disease

E.H. McCLEERY WOLF PACK

Kane, Pa.

adv6t24-29
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, January 15, 1931, pg. 5

KILLING WOLVES

The Kane Republican says that Ansel Nelson, service station owner at East Kane, has been engaged in performing an unusual duty for the past few days. He has been killing off some of Dr. McCleery's wolf pack. The scrubs or small, unhealthy wolves which add nothing to the pack's value are being thinned out. The wolves that the physician still has quartered on the West Side send out their wail of woe every so often. It's a treat to a person who has never had the privilege of listening to the strange chorus.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, May 7, 1931, page 2

FIRST ARCTIC WOLF PUPS TO BE RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, BORN AT McCLEERY PARK.

Kane Republican, Friday. The first litter of White Arctic Wolf cubs ever raised in captivity at the McCleery wolf park, midway between Kane and Mt. Jewett, were receiving the attention a fond parent usually lavishes on its young today.

The cubs, four in number, were born at the park April 3, and are now past the critical stage during which, heretofore, the mother has always killed her young. The mother of the quartet, a beautiful White Arctic specimen killed the other member of what was a litter of five, but for some reason did not molest the others.

The mother wolf, always before, has eaten the cubs when they are bred in captivity. She had eaten the hind quarters of the cub she killed when, according to Dr. E. H. McCleery, owner of the pack and noted wolf authority, "she evidently realized the horror of her cannibalistic deed and forgot the instinct which prompts White Arctics to slay the young born in bondage."

Keepers at the park the other day took the litter from the old female and Dr. McCleery is now certain that they are past the critical stage and will survive.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, November 12, 1931, pg. 5

Kane Republican Tuesday. "Hobo", a giant German police dog, which already has figured prominently in the strange case of Professor Elisha Kent Kane, will be used by the defense to give mute testimony for its master when he goes on trial at Hampton, Va. December 8, for the murder of his pretty wife, Jenny, it became known today.

It was "Hobo" ,great-grandson of "Strongheart", movie dog who entered into the early stages of the case when W.H. "Hope", Graham, brother of the drowned woman, testified the animal had been brutally mistreated by Professor Kane. Graham's testimony at the coroner's hearing aroused sentiment against the handsome professor, defense attorneys claim.

Now they intend to use this same testimony as a boomerang against the prosecution. Professor Kane maintains that he never mistreated the dog, and that Graham's testimony came from a mind warped by prejudice.

Dr. E.H. McCleery, of Kane, famous throughout the world as the "Wolf Man", has been selected to examine the dog. Dr. McCleery, who owns the largest pack of wolves in captivity, is considered an authority on treatment and psychology of animals.

The defense believes that Dr. McCleery's examination will prove Prof. Kane never pricked the animal's hide with forks or otherwise tortured it, as Graham testified.

The defense is also of the belief that Dr. McCleery will be able to ascertain from the actions of the dog whether it holds any fear or hatred for its master, as naturally would follow torture at his hands.

Prof. Kane, who has been visiting at the home of his father, Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane, here, is out of town for a few days and the test to determine the dog's reaction to its master will be held as soon as he returns.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, December 3, 1931, pg. 3

Kane Republican, Nov. 25th - Dr. E. H. McCleery today accepted the published challenge of James Curran, editor of the Saulte St. Marie Star, that the latter will give one hundred dollars to anybody who can prove that wolf ever attacked a person.

Dr. McCleery stated today that he can furnish proof by affidavit that eleven persons, including himself, employed about his wolf pens, have been attacked by wolves. Dr. McCleery bears many scars of encounters with the animals.

His attention was drawn to Mr. Curran's offer by an editorial in the Nov. 19th issue of the New York Sun.

"We have not had any experience with wolves at large but after ten years of association with a pack of Lobos in pens, I can say that Lobo wolves will attack humans," Dr. McCleery declared.

"I can prove by affidavit that ten of the men employed about the wolf pens and myself have been attacked, and some of us badly bitten several times before we were able to beat off the attacks."

William Hornaday, manager of the Bronx Zoo, a renowned naturalist, during the last years of his life said in his book, The Mind and Manners of Wild Animals, that he had carefully investigated some of the stories he had heard of wolves killing people and cites several instances where starving wolves killed and devoured mail carriers. These instances were in the territory which the big lobo inhabited at that time.

The timber wolf of Southern Canada has important points of difference from the Lobo, or Russian wolf. We have raised 25 to 30 Lobo pups each year, and it is not uncommon to see one four weeks of age stand in front of the rest of the litter and fight the keeper who is taking them from the den. We had one female wolf which we killed at three months of age because she did not hesitate to attack anyone who attempted to enter her yard.

"If a Lobo likes a man it is possible he may attack when temporarily irritated, but it is not an attempt to kill. But, if he hates the man he will often employ blandishments to lure his enemy to his den when he will attack with an attempt to kill."
"McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT'' - Thursday, June 23, 1932, pg. 3

FIRE AT WOLF FARM

Kane Republican, Monday. A chimney fire at the residence of V.F. Dunbar at the McCleery Wolf Farm on the Kane-Mt. Jewett highway called out part of the Kane fire department this afternoon at 2 o'clock. The flames were sucked down the chimney into various rooms of the residence and threatened it with quick destruction.

Jack Valentour, chief of the fire department, was summoned and with the Rescue pumper answered the call. Water poured down the chimney extinguished the flames.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, August 25, 1932, pg. 4

ATTENDANT HAS NARROW ESCAPE WHEN ATTACKED BY WOLF IN McCLEERY PACK.

The Hilltop Observer of the Kane Republican says:

Ed. Haite, of Elk Avenue, an employe at the McCleery wolf park, was attacked last week by a she-wolf, â€œMontana,â€ when he entered her cage and took a step toward one of her two pups which lay there sunning itself. "Montana" with her mate,"Romulus," leaped at Haite, who had previously entered their cage without alarming the wolves, and had it not been for Dr. McCleery's presence nearby, would have torn him apart, standersby remarked. And only a few days ago, "Bounding Elk," a wolf Dr. McCleery has had for five years, suddenly leaped at the physician and tore his clothing before he could get out of its cage. The owner of the pack escaped unharmed and explained, quite nonchalantly, that it's a natural habit of such an animal to occasionally revert to its wild instincts. Yesterday, a tourist who stopped at the park told Dr. McCleery that he had read last winter of the controversy with an Ontario editor about whether a wolf will attack a man or not. The tourist was of Russian birth and said that he remembered several times his father had to run for his life to escape wolves and he agreed emphatically that a wolf will attack and kill a person.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, September 9, 1932, pg. 8

Dr. E.H. McCleery's park on the Kane-Mt. Jewett highway is minus two timber wolves following a short and mysterious battle in the pens on Wednesday of last week.

A 130-pound lobo wolf, known as "Bounding Elk", has been blamed for the killing of the pair but circumstances surrounding the fight probably never will be known.

A visitor who was viewing the pack late yesterday afternoon had left the section of pens in which the tragedy occurred no longer than ten minutes when he heard a terrific commotion. Hurrying back, he found three animals in a pen where there had been but two timber wolves before, but the two original occupants were on the ground dead. The third wolf was "Bounding Elk," which evidently had broken through two thicknesses of wire separating his pen from that of the timber wolves and had killed them without much effort, judging from the time consumed.

Dr. McCleery stated later that the timber and lobo wolves are enemies and for that reason he keeps them separated.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, October 11, 1934, page 2

FAMOUS McCLEERY WOLF FATALLY INJURED IN FIGHT.
Kane Republican, October 4. - Buffalo Bill, one of the most famous of Dr. McCleery's lobos, has gone to the happy hunting ground, where longhorn cattle abound and there are no government trappers.

Bill, who forgot entirely his age of approximately 20 years, came out second best in a tangle with a smaller and less vicious White Arctic the other day and keepers at the wolf farm were forced to end the defeated combatant's sufferings with a gun.

The White Arctic in some manner escaped from its pen in the park, which is divided in sub-divisions by heavy mesh wire to keep the belligerent wolves at a safe distance, and wandered aimlessly into "Bill's" enclosure, the fight resulting.

Bill was a native of Montana, where he had injured one man and killed scores of cattle before he was ensnared by a government trapper in 1920. Being a member of the almost extinct lobo species and having a criminal record in the cattle country, he was exhibited at county fairs in the West for 12 years. Two years ago he was the only lobo alive outside of the McCleery pack and the Kane physician bought him in order that no one could validly contest the claim of the park here containing the only lobo wolves in the world.

Visitors to the McCleery Park should have no trouble recalling Buffalo Bill. He was the big lobo with a scar on one shoulder and seemingly possessed of a fiendish delight in snapping at spectators through the wire.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, March 14, 1935, pg. 5

The Kane Republican says: "Producers of 'Sequoia,' praised by critics as the outstanding animal picture of recent years, are negotiating with Dr. E.H.McCleery for use of several of his lobo wolves in a sequel film. The scenario calls for lobos, and the Kane physician's wolves comprise the only known pack in existence. Incidentally, Dr. McCleery is of the belief that the seven-foot timber wolf reported caught in Ontario recently was in reality an escaped lobo. He sold one of his lobos to an Ontario man several years ago, but the animal escaped. Canadian wolves are much smaller than his lobos, the doctor asserts, and it is quite impossible that the seven-foot specimen was anything other than the escaped McCleery wolf."
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, March 6, 1941, pg. 2

LOBO WOLVES AT KANE, ONLY ONES IN WORLD, ATTRACT MANY VISITORS

Harrisburg, March 5. - One wolf at the door is enough to worry most of us but Dr. E.H. McCleery, owner of Lobo wolf pens near Kane, has 30 and expects that many more in a massed blessed event in April, the State Department of Commerce has been advised.

Thirty pups are expected to be born in April at the pens on the McCleery estate six miles east of Kane which is on Route 6 in northwestern Pennsylvania. The animals are not raised for commercial purposes but rather for the interest the owner has in Lobos which are said to be the only remaining members of their kind. They are descendants of the most ferocious of all killers ever to have existed in the American animal world and once followed the buffalo herds in their migration along the Rocky Mountains and from the Canadian border to central Texas and Arizona. There are no specimens of this particular animal in any other zoo or wild locality, Dr. McCleery says.

Visitors are welcome during daylight hours. Besides the Lobo variety there are also two unusually large white Arctic wolves, a species of which still exists beyond the 84th latitude and preys on musk oxen.

It is said that Lobo wolves once cost cattle raisers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. When herds of Buffalo were increasing and would have overrun the country, the Lobo killed the old and sick buffalo by the thousands, not for eating but for the love of killing. When these herds of buffalo were destroyed the Lobo was left with the same habits and transferred his attacks to cattle, horses and big game. Consequently it was necessary to get rid of the wolves and the American and Canadian governments cooperated in this matter.

Dr. McCleery does his own handling of the mature wolves. He has been bitten several times and when a wolf goes that far he is always killed. One exception to this, however, is Old Idaho who has sent Dr. McCleery to the hospital on three occasions. Idaho is accused of having killed more than $50,000 worth of cattle in western territory. He is quite famous having had his life described in several radio broadcasts by explorers, many of whom visit the pens. Idaho is the wolf whose picture appeared on billboard advertisements of an oil company during 1932-33. He was used to exemplify the connection between wolves and the depression.

There are interesting tales connected with each of the wolves in the collection. Dr. McCleery describes their habits to visitors who are pleased to know that in all their ferocity Lobos prove that chivalry is not dead although they will cold-bloodedly tear apart other male wolves, they will not attack females.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, May 14, 1942, pg. 2.

JUST CAN'T BE DONE

Kane Republican - Eight cute little packages of dynamite attracted considerable attention in the business section yesterday - they were wolf pups from the McCleery Wolf Park on Route 6 and were enroute back to their future haunts after undergoing a series of taming tests. Dr. McCleery and park attendants make a series of special efforts to tame the pups when they are little more than fluffy bundles of chained lightning. Tests through the years show that but one in 11 can be tamed.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, June 28, 1945, pg. 2

Classified Section

WANTED - For summer only we pay five dollars for dead horses, and three dollars for dead cows. We call for them. Our telephone number Kane 6052-R-2. E.H. McCleery, Kane, Pa. 6-21,28; 7-5
THE BRADFORD ERA - Saturday, February 16, 1946, pg. 11

Kane, Pa. - This mountain community sorrowfully acclaimed a new hero today - a mongrel dog that sacrificed its own life to save its four-year-old master from a great, savage, lion.

Young Claude Mollander Jr., was safe, unscathed after his face-to-face encounter with the fierce beast. But he mourned the loss of his beloved playmate, whose spunky fight held off an attacker three times its size until Claude reached safety.

The 150-pound puma was slain, later, by a state policeman who had to resort to a service pistol because his high-powered rifle jammed.

Claude and his big dog were romping near the boy's home yesterday when the mountain lion, which officers said escaped from a private zoo, appeared.

The lad's screams at his door brought his family in time to witness the end of the battle between the lion and the dog.

As the lion turned and disappeared in a nearby wood, the boy's father hurried to a service station down the road and phoned state police.

State Police Sgt. C.E. Stacy, accompanied by the boy's father, entered the wood. They saw the beast coming toward them.

Stacey drew a bead with his .30-caliber rifle, but the gun jammed. Then the officer whipped out his service pistol and fired two shots. One hit the puma's spine, crippling it. A few minutes later, a shot from the rifle ended its life.

Sgt. Stacey said the mountain lion was one of two exhibited by Dr. E.H. McCleery, retired physician, at his private zoo seven miles from Kane. The doctor for the last 10 years has made a hobby of raising the almost extinct lobo wolf and now has 25 or 30.

Dr. McCleery presented the dead puma to Stacey who says he'll make a rug of the skin.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, January 17, 1952, pg. 1

GAME OFFICIALS IDENTIFY TWO ANIMALS AS WOLVES

At the regular January meeting of the Bucktail Trail Sportsmen's Club, held in Crosby Grange Hall last Thursday night, Game Protector William Shirey of Colegrove reported that the two strange animals slain during deer season last month had been positively identified as timber wolfes.

The man who killed the wolf on Robbins Brook told a Democrat reported that the vicious beast threatened to attack him and he was thoroughly frightened while firing his rifle in self-defense.

A picture of the Robbins Brook wolf was printed in the Democrat.

The animals had been variously identified as wild dogs or coyotes by some sportsmen.

However, Dr. E.H. McCleery, who operates the Kane Wolf Farm, identified one of the animals as a timber wolf. Dr. McCleery is a widely-recognized expert on the wolf family.

Dr. McCleery's identification has been confirmed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, according to Game Protector Shirey. It is believed more of the timber wolves are at large in this area. No one knows where they came from.

By a coincidence, Charles Dickinson, father of McKean County Register of Wills Merle E. Dickinson and Louis R. Dickinson of Smethport, is credited with killing the last den of wolves in Pennsylvania at the head of Robbins Brook about 70 years ago.

The elder Mr. Dickinson was a Civil War veteran and a noted hunter, trapper, and authority on wildlife.

Although panthers (also known as mountain lions) have been extinct in Pennsylvania for 100 years, a man who engaged in a fierce battle with a mountain lion near Mt. Jewett, died in the Kane Summit Hospital on Wednesday of last week.

He was Claude Mollander, 74, the father who rushed from his home, armed with a baseball bat, to club off a huge mountain lion which had attacked his collie dog.

The courageous dog had leaped to the defense of Claude Mollander Jr., then aged 7, and was being torn to pieces by the big cat.

The mountain lion, which had escaped from the McCleery Wolf Park on the Mt. Jewett-Kane highway, retreated before Mr. Mollander's desperate attack.

Handicapped at first by a long, heavy chain attached to its collar, the dog broke the chain during the uneven fight. But the dying dog refused to retreat one step even after the chain broke.

A short time later, Mr. Mollander made his way to Midway to call the State Police in Kane.

Sgt. C.E. Stacey, now retired, went to the scene and killed the mountain lion, which started stalking the two men as they walked to the remote Mollander residence. The Mollanders moved into Mt. Jewett 11 years ago.

Mr. Mollander was born in Mt. Jewett on Dec. 17, 1885, and had resided in that area all his life. He was a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church.

He was employed at the Kushequa Brick Works for several years and later worked in the oil field for 28 years prior to his retirement recently.

Mr. Mollander's wife and a daughter, Marjorie, are deceased. Surviving are his son, Claude, and two sisters, Mrs. Edgar Swanson of Mt. Jewett and Mrs. Andrew Springsteele of Cleveland, O.

The funeral service was conducted Saturday afternoon in a Mt. Jewett funeral home by the Rev. Paul Cornell, pastor of St. Matthew's Church.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, February 8, 1962, pg. 1

WOLF FARM SOLD BY ITS ELDERLY FOUNDER

Kane (Special) - The McCleery Lobo Wolf Farm here has been sold by its 94-year-old founder, who operated the tourist attraction for over 40 years, to a young structural steel engineer and his wife from Milwaukee, Wis.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lynch first came here in 1960 during a Thanksgiving vacation trip to see the wolves after becoming interested in them through magazine articles. The couple has been residing at the park area seven miles east of Kane on Route 6 for the past several months where they are being taught the proper care and handling of the animals from their former owner, Dr. E. H. McCleery, who will be 95 on July 23.

The couple plans to retain the name of the farm in honor of Dr. McCleery and will keep the park at its present site, with plans for improvement and expansion. They feel the recreational program being planned with the completion of the Allegheny Reservoir "will present one of the greatest attractions of the East in the accelerated attention to tourism." Mr. Lynch, formerly with Kunde Erecting Corp., gave up his fulltime work in structural steel, which took him from Chicago, Ill. to the west coast, to become owner and proprietor of the wolf farm.

Doctor McCleery, who was born at Milton, Pa., came here more than 60 years ago and practiced medicine for a half-century. He gave up his practice during the early 1930s to devote his entire time to caring for the wolves.

He became interested in wolves during trips to Alaska and Canada in the early 1900s. In 1920 when the U.S. Government announced plans to exterminate the remaining lobo wolves in the western states, Dr. McCleery secured some of those captured by men assigned to kill them. From a group of 28 he selected two which he added to the one he acquired from a zoo in Sheridan, Wyo. Those three wolves gave him his start as the owner of the only lobo wolves in the country.

For 10 years he raised the animals in a park near his home on Tionesta Avenue. But in 1930 he constructed the present park on Route 6 because the howling wolves were disturbing the peace of his neighborhood.

The elderly founder is active around his home at the park and visits in Kane from time to time. But he has conceded that the "wolves are just too much at my age."
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, February 22, 1962, pg. 8

LAWRENCE LAUDS CITIZENS OF KANE FOR PROMOTIONS

Kane (Special) - Gov. David L. Lawrence in a letter to community officials commended the citizens of Kane for their efforts in promotion of new industry and the tourism program.

The state's chief executive in his letter said "please extend my sincere commendation to the citizens of Kane for the exceptional fine work they have been doing in the effort to revitalize industrial opportunities for Kane and for the southern part of McKean County. I am impressed by the success realized in the establishment of Bern Kane Products and the new promotion efforts for tourism involved the McCleery Wolves."

Gov. Lawrence added a "thriving economy for Pennsylvania is the responsibility of all of us. The self-reliance which has been demonstrated in these cases, augurs well for a continuing improvement in the general economy."

He continued with the statement that, "I know that you and your associates and your fellow townsmen will continue to do everything possible to sustain this trend. Please be assured that you have my personal best wishes and the promises that I am prepared to do everything that is necessary to help continue this program."

The recognition came Tuesday as materials, machinery and equipment were being moved into Kane's newest industry, Bern Kane Products, and as the new major expansion of the Stackpole Carbon Kane Ceramagnet plant was being readied for operation.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, May 31, 1962, pg. 6.

DR. E.H. McCLEERY OF KANE DIES AT 94

Kane (Special) - Dr. Edward H. McCleery, 94, a resident here for the past 68 years, retired physician and owner and operator of the wolf farm here for 40 years, died at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday in Bradford Hospital.

Dr. McCleery had been ill for the past three weeks and was recovering from surgery when he was stricken with pneumonia.

Born at Milton, July 23, 1867, he was educated at the John C. Green School at Lawrenceville, N.J., Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia.

After completing his education he practiced medicine at Cheyenne, Wyo., for two years before coming to Kane in 1894. He retired from active practice here in the early 1930s, after which he devoted his time to the care of the Lobo Wolf pack, located on Route 6, seven miles east of Kane. He sold the pack in January. His work with the wolves received worldwide recognition.

He was a member of the McKean County Medical, the Pennsylvania Medical and the American Medical Societies. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and the Seneca Highlands Association.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Helen McCleery Mendon of Brigantine, N.J., and one grandson, also of Brigantine.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. William Bovard, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, May 23, 1963, pg. 1

VISITOR TANGLES WITH WOLF, GETS ARM, LEG BITES

Kane (Special) - Sylvester McMinnis, Wilkes-Barre, took a trip to the McCleery Wolf Park Monday and got tangled up with a Lobo and wound up in a doctorâ€™s office for treatment of bites on his arm and leg.

Mr. McMinnis had gone to the park with other visitors and persuaded Park Owner Jack Lynch to let him approach one of the wolves in a pen. Permission was granted and the visitor made the mistake of turning his back to the animal, Timber, a small timber wolf. Timber let out a growl and sank his teeth in Mr. McMinnisâ€™ leg and arm.

Mr. Lynch rescued the victim before Timber could give any further exhibition of his power. The park owner said Tuesday â€œwe will keep the padlock on the pens regardless of pressure by doubters. We have too many records of attacks on personnel to permit others to risk serious injury.â€
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT - Thursday, January 16, 1964, pg. 1

WOLVES MAY 'EXPAND'

Jack Lynch, operator of the McCleery Wolf Park on Rt. 6, near Kane, is planning expansion by securing some malemutes as company for "Kim." The Lobo wolves have heavy coats and enjoy cold weather.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT- Thursday, January 13, 1966, pg. 1

STORY ON FAMED LOBO WOLVES IN MAGAZINE

Kane - The current edition of the Saturday Evening Post carries a photographic feature story on the famed Lobo Wolf Park, seven miles east of Kane on Route 6. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lynch, owners, and a number of the individual wolves as well as the pack in general are shown.

The late Dr. E.H. McCleery established the pack of Lobo Wolves in the present site as a tourist attraction many years ago.
McKEAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Thursday, July 7, 1966, pg. 5

ADD TWO AFRICAN LIONS TO KANE AREA WOLF PARK

Kane (Special) â€“ Two African lions are now part of the group of wild animals on display at nearby Wolf Park operated by Jack Lynch.

Cimba, a year-old lion, has been joined by an eight-month old lion formerly owned by the Sunbeam Corp. Cimba was owned by Howard Sautter of Willow Grove.

The new arrival is Caesar used the past several months by a salesman for lawn mowers. He is as docile as a dog and can be led about on a leash and petted by anyone.

Present plans are to put both lions on display in adjoining pens where visitors can view them during a visit to Wolf Park. As wolves and lions are natural enemies it will be necessary to separate their pens.

KANE - Two yearling wolves from the Lobo Wolf Park east of Kane on Route 6 were killed over the weekend after they had escaped from their pen. One was shot by a woodchuck hunter and the other was struck by a motorist on Route 219 south of Lantz Corners.

The wolves, according to Jack Lynch, owner and operator of the park, had left their pen through a gate and remained nearby in the woods until they became frightened by efforts to capture them. The wolves then darted in the wooded area.
FATE MAGAZINE, Psychic Pets and Spirit Animals: True Stories, page 136, 1996 by Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN

Dr. E.H. McCleery, who almost single-handedly saved the lobo or buffalo wolves from extinction, kept a number of them on a Pennsylvania farm. His successor, Jack Lynch, was startled when, at noon one day, all the wolves howled "in a way he had never heard and has not heard since." McCleery had just died.